Tube and biased drift pin combination and dustpan incorporating same

Abstract

A tube is combined with a biased drift pin arrangement, which combination is useful for locking functions in coupling and decoupling separate tubes, or in locking-hinged dustpans, and so on. The tube has a wall formed with a pair of holes. The drift pin is formed on a leaf spring that has a base portion and a cantilever portion joined to the base portion for relative flexion therebetween. It is the cantilever portion that is formed with the drift pin, as well as a spaced push pin. The leaf spring inserts in the tube such that the drift and push pins are aligned to extend and retract through respective ones of the pair of holes. To wedge the leaf spring in place, a separate cartridge is sized and shaped to permit sliding insertion in to where respective abutment surfaces of the leaf spring and cartridge, respectively, mate each other. Thus the cartridge wedges the base portion of the leaf spring relatively immobile against the tube wall, such that the push and drift pins are normally biased to extend through the respective ones of the holes. The leaf spring is prevented from moving axially in the tube by the fact of the push pin constantly occupying its respective hole for all angles of flexion and extension of the cantilever portion. The leaf spring further is arranged to hold the cartridge captive in its stationary position. In use, the push pin is depressible to actuate or induce full retraction of the drift pin.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination, a tube and biased drift pin, comprising: the tube having a wall formed with two axially-spaced holes;   a leaf spring that has a base portion and a cantilever portion joined to the base portion for relative flexion therebetween, the base portion being formed with an abutment surface and the cantilever portion being arranged to carry the drift pin as well as a spaced push pin; and,   a separate cartridge formed with an abutment surface;   said leaf spring being disposed in the tube with the drift and push pins aligned to extend and retract through respective ones of the axially-spaced holes;   said cartridge being sized and shaped to permit sliding insertion in the tube relative to the leaf spring to a stationary position where the respective abutment surfaces are mated and the cartridge wedges the base portion of the leaf spring relatively immobile against the tube wall such that the push and drift pins are normally biased to extend through the respective holes and that the push pin can be depressed to induce full retraction of the drift pin;   wherein the leaf spring is maintained from moving axially in the tube by the arrangement of the push pin constantly occupying its respective hole for all angles of flexion and extension of the cantilever portion, the leaf spring further including retaining means for retaining the cartridge in said stationary position.   
     
     
       2. The combination in claim 1, wherein the cartridge has a body extending between opposite edges, one of which defines the abutment surface for the cartridge and the other being acted on by the retaining means of the leaf spring such that the cartridge is captive between the retaining means and abutment surface that are both on the leaf spring. 
     
     
       3. The combination in claim 2, wherein the retaining means comprises a protrusion formed and arranged to act operatively on the respective edge of the cartridge. 
     
     
       4. The combination in claim 1, wherein the base portion of the leaf spring is elongated and generally planar between opposite lateral edges, said cartridge being formed with a flat surface to abut against the base portion, the flat surface being sized to induce the wedging of the base portion against the tube by inducing the lateral edges thereof against an inside surface of the tube. 
     
     
       5. The combination in claim 1, wherein the cartridge is formed from a polymer material. 
     
     
       6. The combination in claim 1, wherein the leaf spring, including the abutment surface thereof, and the push and drift pins are stamped from a single piece of planar metal. 
     
     
       7. The combination in claim 6, wherein the retaining means of the leaf spring comprises at least one bent flange of metal, positioned axially-spaced from the abutment surface of the leaf spring. 
     
     
       8. The combination in claim 6, wherein the retaining means and abutment surface that are both of the leaf spring comprise respective bent portions of the leaf spring. 
     
     
       9. A locking hinged-dustpan, comprising: a pan having a bottom that has front and rear edges spaced between side edges, a rear flange and two side flanges extending upwardly from the rear and side edges respectively, wherein the front edge defines a scoop;   a bracket on the rear flange having at least one sidewall;   a handle formed from a tube having a wall extending between opposite end portions, one end portion being pivotably connected to the bracket to pivot about an axis generally perpendicular to the bracket sidewall, said one end portion including two axially spaced holes, the opposite end portion being arranged as a hand grip;   a leaf spring that has a base portion and a cantilever portion joined to the base portion for relative flexion therebetween, the base portion being formed with an abutment surface;   a drift pin and spaced push pin arranged and fixed on the cantilever portion; and,   a separate cartridge, formed with an abutment surface;   said leaf spring being arranged in the handle tube with the drift and push pins aligned to extend and retract through respective ones of the axially spaced holes;   said cartridge being sized and shaped to permit sliding insertion in the handle tube relative to the leaf spring to a stationary position where the respective abutment surfaces are mated and the cartridge wedges the base portion of the leaf spring relatively immobile against the tube wall such that the push and drift pins are normally biased to extend through the respective holes and that the push pin can be depressed to induce full retraction of the drift pin;   wherein the leaf spring is maintained from moving axially in the tube by the arrangement of the push pin constantly occupying its respective hole for all angles of flexion and extension of the cantilever portion, the leaf spring further including retaining means for retaining the cartridge in said stationary position.   
     
     
       10. The locking hinged-dustpan in claim 9, wherein the cartridge has a body extending between opposite edges, one of which defines the abutment surface for the cartridge and the other being acted on by the retaining means of the leaf spring such that the cartridge is captive between the retaining means and abutment surface that are both on the leaf spring. 
     
     
       11. The locking hinged-dustpan in claim 10, wherein the retaining means comprises a protrusion formed and arranged to act operatively on the respective edge of the cartridge. 
     
     
       12. The locking hinged-dustpan in claim 9, wherein the base portion of the leaf spring is elongated and generally planar between opposite lateral edges, said cartridge being formed with a flat surface to abut against the base portion, the flat surface being sized to induce lateral edges of the base portion to wedge against the tube wall. 
     
     
       13. The locking hinged-dustpan in claim 9, wherein the cartridge is formed from a polymer material. 
     
     
       14. The locking hinged-dustpan in claim 9, wherein the leaf spring, including the abutment surface thereof, and the push and drift pins are stamped from a single piece of planar metal. 
     
     
       15. The locking hinged-dustpan in claim 14, wherein the retaining means of the leaf spring comprises at least one bent flange of metal, positioned axially-spaced from the abutment surface of the leaf spring. 
     
     
       16. The locking hinged-dustpan in claim 14, wherein the retaining means and abutment surface that are both of the leaf spring comprise respective bent portions of the leaf spring.